Mad Max is a 1979 Australian
apocalyptic action thriller film
directed by George Miller and
written by Miller and Byron
Kennedy. The film, starring the
then-little-known Mel Gibson, was
released internationally in
1980.

This low-budget film's story of
social breakdown, murder, and
vengeance became the top-grossing
Australian film, and has been
credited for opening up the global
market to Australian films. The
movie was also notable for being
the first Australian film to be
shot with a widescreen anamorphic
lens.

Mad Max was followed by two
sequels, Mad Max 2 (aka The Road
Warrior) in 1981 and Mad Max:
Beyond Thunderdome in 1985.